M and M Showing - Tack and Turnout!!

[welshcobz]

Could I ask for your help on this - much appreciated!!!

Right......This is our first season showing (mine, my mare has been there and done it before!!) - I'm going to a couple of small local riding club shows with my welsh D - We are going for a play and a bit of fun and have no aspirations to go qualifying for anything etc!! Also, because of this I don't want to go spending shed loads of money on something that potentially might not be my cup of tea..... I know the following isn't ideal and I'm sure the hard and fast show people will be wincing as they read but would be really grateful for your opinions especially with the above in mind -

My mare is dark bay

Me - Brown Dublin Canberra Jacket (I know it's not a popular choice but it was a tenner on ebay brand new!!!)
Lemon shirt and matching coloured jods
Red tie (little dots on) tie pin in the pipe line!!
Gloves.....brown leather?
Hat ......mine is black (not leather harness) would this be ok?
Long Boots - any recommendations? Again budget in mind?

Mare - I have a Thorowgood synthetic Cob Gp saddle in great nick - could I get away with this? It's black and would get a black double to match. Would I need a leather girth or would the black thorowgood one that I have to match the saddle be ok? My pelham is a happy mouth.

Thanks in advance x

[Kanuma]

right what you want to wear sounds fine. The hat isnt ideal and when you replace it a blue would be better but for small riders clubs you will get away with it.
for a large M&M you need long black leather boots try ebay mine are from there preferably with a garter strap if they dont have zips but those are easily put on for very little if they dont have them.
saddle isnt ideal but again you will probably get away with it. Your black girth will do provided it is washed before hand, but a leather one would be better (and easier to clean). Pelham would be ok i used to show stan in a rubber pelham.

[Daffy Dilly]

Should be fine, the majority of things that need changing will be expensive, so I would make long boots the priority unless you're under 16. If you're under 16 you'll get away with short boots (as there is a over/under 16 thing about boots at local level) so a brown pair will do.

For you I would make sure the number string matches your jacket (and that the fastening is hidden), that you've rounded the edges of your number slightly, that you are wearing a tie pin (a discreet broach will do) and that you smile. Those bits are cheap, but they make a big difference. :)

[welshcobz]

Thanks Kanuma and Daffy for that very helpful indeed. Like the smile advice very much, cheers.

[star]

i used to show my Welsh Cob in a black tie with white school shirt, black show jacket, black gloves and a black velvet hat until i knew better and could afford the right stuff. It was only local level stuff but he always did fine and was always placed. I do feel much better wearing the right stuff though!

[Daffy Dilly]

Well I've always shown mine in a tweed and long boots, but that was about all I really had right. It's taken about a year to get it all up to scratch, and it's been very expensive, but worth every penny in the long run. I can't say whether our placings improved with the final improvement in turnout (new jacket) as his way of going improved no end for that show, but I imagine it will have helped.

It's a big confidence boost as well knowing you're correctly turned out, one less thing to worry about :p